Bethel firefighters have recovered two bodies after a trailer fire in Bethel over the weekend.

Just before 2am Saturday morning, December 3rd, the Bethel Fire Department responded to the blaze at trailer 29 in the city of Bethel. According to Alaska State Troopers, responders extinguished the flames and located the remains of two individuals inside.

A Deputy Fire Marshal based in Anchorage has responded to Bethel to assist Bethel Police with the investigation into the cause and circumstances of the fire.

The identities of the individuals have yet to be released by law enforcement officials.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/12/07/trailer-fire-in-bethel-two-bodies-found-inside/feed/026613Troopers Investigating Break-ins in White Mountainhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/12/05/troopers-investigating-break-ins-in-white-mountain/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/12/05/troopers-investigating-break-ins-in-white-mountain/#respondMon, 05 Dec 2016 21:31:52 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=26577Alaska State Troopers received a report of several burglaries in the community on November 28th.]]>

White Mountain, AK – An investigation continues after a series of break-ins that occurred in the community of White Mountain late last month.

Alaska State Troopers received a report of several burglaries in the community on November 28th. Troopers say they have identified a juvenile suspect. No names have been released.

The investigation is still underway.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/12/05/troopers-investigating-break-ins-in-white-mountain/feed/026577Burglary, Criminal Mischief, and Theft Reported in Emmonak on November 11thhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/11/14/burglary-criminal-mischief-and-theft-reported-in-emmonak-on-november-11th/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/11/14/burglary-criminal-mischief-and-theft-reported-in-emmonak-on-november-11th/#respondMon, 14 Nov 2016 18:59:50 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=26271All three events are currently under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Alaska State Troopers in Emmonak at 907-949-1300.]]>

Three separate incidents of burglary, criminal mischief, and theft occurred in the community of Emmonak on Friday, November 11th.

Alaska State Troopers in Emmonak were notified of a burglary at Ryan Air. Troopers say a door to the building had been pried open, and someone had entered the facility during the evening on Friday.

Troopers also received word from Grant Aviation that their front door had been kicked that same evening, causing minor damage.

In a third and separate incident on November 11th, a Honda ATV was reported stolen in the community. After a search, the vehicle was found by the owner without damage.

All three events are currently under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Alaska State Troopers in Emmonak at 907-949-1300.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/11/14/burglary-criminal-mischief-and-theft-reported-in-emmonak-on-november-11th/feed/026271Suspect in Custody after Alleged Robbery and Assault in Aniakhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/31/suspect-in-custody-after-alleged-robbery-and-assault-in-aniak/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/31/suspect-in-custody-after-alleged-robbery-and-assault-in-aniak/#respondMon, 31 Oct 2016 18:00:36 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25806After an initial investigation, Troopers contacted 33-year-old Glen Morgan at his Aniak residence, where he was arrested on two counts of Assault in the Third Degree and one count of Robbery in the First Degree.]]>

A suspect is in custody after a robbery and alleged assault in the community of Aniak.

Alaska State Troopers in Aniak received a report of a possible robbery at the A.C. store at 10:10 P.M. on Saturday, October 29th. It’s reported that 33-year-old Glen Morgan of Aniak allegedly had entered the store and demanded cigarettes, producing a large kitchen knife during the interaction. Morgan is said to have left after an employee handed over the product.

After an initial investigation, Troopers contacted Morgan at his Aniak residence, where he was arrested on two counts of Assault in the Third Degree and one count of Robbery in the First Degree.

Morgan was remanded to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center (YKCC) in Bethel while the investigation continues.

No injuries are reported after three buildings caught fire in the community of Kobuk on Sunday.

Alaska State Troopers were initially notified at 12:51 A.M. Sunday morning, October 30th, that a grocery store in Kobuk was engulfed in flames. Further reports state the fire spread to the store’s storage building as well as to a house located next to the store.

Again, no injuries were reported. Troopers state all three buildings are considered a “total loss.”

Alaska Fire Marshals are joining Troopers in Kobuk to investigate the cause of the blaze. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact State Troopers in Kotzebue.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/31/three-buildings-catch-fire-in-kobuk/feed/025801Missing Man Found Under Ice of Grayling Creekhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/missing-man-found-under-ice-of-grayling-creek/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/missing-man-found-under-ice-of-grayling-creek/#respondWed, 26 Oct 2016 18:00:12 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25777Residents in Grayling, Alaska, recovered the body of a missing man on October 19 under the ice of Grayling Creek, just hours after he was reported missing.]]>

Residents in the community of Grayling recovered the body of a missing man last week.

Alaska State Troopers were alerted at about 12:15 P.M. the afternoon of October 19th that 43-year-old Stanley Milton Walker was missing and that his jacket had been discovered frozen to Grayling Creek.

With efforts of community members chipping through the creek ice, Walker was found underwater at about 6:00 P.M. that same evening, an estimated 100 feet from where his jacket had been located.

Walker’s body has since been transported to the Anchorage Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. Next of kin has been notified of the incident.

Troopers state alcohol was not a factor and foul play is not suspected.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/missing-man-found-under-ice-of-grayling-creek/feed/025777Holy Cross Man Arrested after Escaping Custodyhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/holy-cross-man-arrested-after-escaping-custody/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/holy-cross-man-arrested-after-escaping-custody/#respondWed, 26 Oct 2016 18:00:01 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25773The Holy Cross Tribal Police Officer made an initial arrest at about 11:00pm on October 20th, but Peters, Sr., fled custody before Alaska State Troopers out of Aniak were able to acquire him on Friday, October 21st.]]>

An arrest was made late last week after a man escaped custody in the community of Holy Cross. 41-year-old George Darren Peters, Sr., of Holy Cross had two warrants out for his arrest for assault in the third degree.

The Holy Cross Tribal Police Officer made an initial arrest at about 11:00pm on October 20th, but Peters fled custody before Alaska State Troopers out of Aniak were able to acquire him on Friday, October 21st.

After searching, Peters was located at about 4:15 P.M. on Saturday, October 22nd, by the TPO and community members. He was arrested on one count of Escape in the Second Degree, and has since been transferred to the Aniak jail.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/26/holy-cross-man-arrested-after-escaping-custody/feed/025773No Injuries Reported after Aniak Structure Firehttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/no-injuries-reported-after-aniak-structure-fire/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/no-injuries-reported-after-aniak-structure-fire/#respondMon, 24 Oct 2016 18:00:57 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25783All three occupants inside the Aniak residence at the time made it out safely without injury.]]>

No injuries are reported after a fire destroyed a residence in the community of Aniak earlier this month.

Alaska State Troopers report that the fire, which occurred on October 11th, was accidental, stating that a cigarette started the blaze. Alcohol is also considered to be a factor in the incident.

All three occupants inside the Aniak residence at the time made it out safely without injury.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/no-injuries-reported-after-aniak-structure-fire/feed/025783Five Men Return Safely to Akiachakhttp://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/five-men-return-safely-to-akiachak/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/five-men-return-safely-to-akiachak/#respondMon, 24 Oct 2016 18:00:24 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25780Troopers responded with aircraft on October 18th and identified a boat navigating river ice and heading back toward the community of Akiachak. All five individuals were on-board.]]>

Five men returned safely to the community of Akiachak early last week after a search and rescue call to Alaska State Troopers.

27-year-old Eddie James and 18-year-old Layton Wassilie, both of Akiachak, and another juvenile were reported overdue on October 17th after they had left to camp three days prior. A separate pair from Akiachak, 29-year-old Jessie Lott and 36-year-old Darren Jennings, were also reported overdue after a day trip planned on October 15th.

Troopers responded with aircraft on October 18th and identified a boat navigating river ice and heading back toward the community. All five individuals were on-board.

Local searchers were notified of their location. Troopers say all five returned to Akiachak in good health.

]]>http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/24/five-men-return-safely-to-akiachak/feed/025780In Nome, a New Search Effort for Joseph Balderas (UPDATE: Search Efforts Called Off)http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/19/joseph-balderas-autumn-search-underway/
http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2016/10/19/joseph-balderas-autumn-search-underway/#commentsThu, 20 Oct 2016 00:24:15 +0000http://www.knom.org/wp/?p=25661UPDATE: As of 8pm Wednesday, the autumn search for Joseph Balderas has been called off. Volunteers had been hoping that autumn changes to the tundra would make their efforts more successful, but no new clues or evidence was found.]]>

Update, 8:45am Thursday: according to Nome City Manager Tom Moran, the latest search efforts for Joseph Balderas have been called off, effective 8pm Wednesday night, after searching on Tuesday and Wednesday provided no new clues or evidence.

Tuesday morning’s briefing in the Nome City Fire Hall began the ground search phase of a new, autumn search and rescue effort for missing person Joseph Balderas.

City Manager Tom Moran is acting as incident commander for this search effort, even though the search’s focus is a site more than 40 miles outside of Nome city limits.

“The City Council authorized $10,000 for a volunteer search effort to be led by Nome Search and Rescue. And the volunteer fire department and ambulance department stepped in and started their own search, not underneath the umbrella of the State Troopers this time,” said the City Manager.

The Alaska State Troopers are not formally involved with this search effort, however, Sgt. Cross stated that they paid for the cost of insurance for two cadaver dogs and their handlers. The two dog teams began searching the designated 8 square mile grid on Wednesday morning and were joined by helicopter support in the afternoon.

Two Cadaver Dog Teams in from Anchorage to help with the Joseph Balderas search. Photo: Davis Hovey, KNOM (2016)

One of the on-scene commanders, Paul Kosto, and two spotters went up in a Bering Air helicopter on Tuesday afternoon to look for clues to Balderas’ whereabouts. Kosto says the tundra conditions are more favorable then they were during the July search.

“From the elevation that we’ll be at, we will be able to see a shoe or a jacket or even something that might be partially buried in either leaves or if animal has taken little bits of stuff. The one clue that we’re kind of hoping he had with him is a bright green backpack which would have been difficult to find with all the foliage we’ve got. Now the colors have changed dramatically out there, we’re in grays and some dark reds, and probably about 50% of the leaves are off the brush, so visibility is going to improve, and the color schemes have changed for us,” remarked Kosto.

Rented helicopter from Bering Air by the City of Nome to assist in the search. Photo: Davis Hovey, KNOM (2016)

Besides Kosto, the other on-scene commanders are Kevin Knowlton and Matt Johnson, along with the base commander Seiji Heck. Tracking devices were provided to ground searchers Tuesday morning along with radios to communicate with the mobile commander at the fire truck and the base commander at the fire hall.

Kosto mentioned this search is more organized than the last search and emphasized the importance of safety throughout this effort. According to Moran, the search was called off Wednesday night shortly before 8pm, due to no evidence or clues being found.